Rotary engine



June 18, 1929. w y SE|FERT 1,717,739

ROTARY ENGINE Filed Dec. 29,1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 2a I i INVENTO a by Wwwm w. V. SEIFERT ROTARY ENGINE June 18, 1929.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fil ed Dec. 29, 1925 )IyNTOR.

TTORNEY.

June 18, 1929. w. v. SEIFERT 5 Sheet 5 ROTARY ENGINE Filed Dec. 29, 1925 :Zy Y ORY.

June 18, 1929. v, FE T 1.717.739

ROTARY ENGINE Filed'Dec. 29, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 18,1929.

entree STATES PATENT- o -FIcE.

WILLIAM v. SEIFERT, or DENVER, COLORADO.

noramr ENGINE.

Application filed December 29, 1925. Serial No. 78,169.

This invention relates to rotary engines and its primary object is to provide an engine in which simplicity of construction and operation is combined with great efliciency and practicability in use, i

Another objectof the invention is to provide an engine of the above described character in which leakage of motive fluid andconsequent back pressure and loss of energy are j with thepresent invention,

reduced to a minimum. Another object is to provide an. engine, the rotary element of which is impelled by a rapid succession of impulses during each revolution. A further object is to provide a rotary engine of the internal combustion type in which the rotary element is continuously subjected to the influence of both high-pressure and low-pres sure motive fluid, and still another object is to provide in cooperative association with the.

engine proper, a compressor-element which in the operation,.delivers the fuel derived from a'conveniently positioned carburetor or other source, in a compressed condition to the combustion chambers of the engine.

The above enumerated objects of the invention cover only those features which are elementally distinctive over otherengines of the same or similar type heretofore devised,

and it is to be understood thattlie invention has many other objects principally relating to details of construction and to the compact and advantageousarrangement of parts, all of which will be fully brought out in the course of the following description.

' In the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the .several views, Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional elevation of an engine constructed in accordance Figure 2, a vertical transverse section of the compressor-element of theengiiie along the line 2 2, Figure 1, Figures 3', 4 and 5, secti 'ure 2, but 'drawn to a'reduced' scale illustrating different positions of the rotor of the compressor in the cyclic operation thereof,

Figure 6,- a vertical transverse sectionof thefpowereelement of the engine taken on the line 6( 5, Figure 1,

Figure 7, a partially sectional end elevation "of-the engine, looking inthe direction of the arrow 7 in Figure 1,

Figure 8, an enlarged sectional. elevat on ons similar to Fig of one of the valve-niember s and thereto ads I jacent cooperative parts of the engine, in a plane indicated by the line 8--.8 in Figure 6,

Figure 9, an enlarged and fragmentary secthrough one'of the ro- 4 sections 6 and 7 closing the ends thereof. The

three sections are fastened together by bolts -8 and they are provided with passages 9 for the circulation of a cooling fluid',fwater preferred. c Fastened centrally of the hea fluid-tight bearings 10' and 12 for the rotary support .of a shaft ldcwhic'h in the operation ds hand 7 are serves to transmit the movement .Ofa rotorelement-14 common to both the compressorunit and the power-unit of the engine.

The rotor comprises a hollow hub 15 which j in the operation of the engine prov ides a reservoir 16 for the motive fluid compressed by the compressor-unit and which is rigidly I fastened on the shaft by means ofa screw thread at one end and a shoulder at its opposite end, the shoulder 18 being drawn into airtight engagement with a corresponding breast 19 on the shaft, when an externally screw-threaded enlargement 17 of the'latter is screwed into a correspondingl tappedopening ofthe hub. The bore of t "e hub 15 which is of hollow cylindrical form, is of smaller diameter within-the power-unit than within the compression-unit, thereby taper ing the reservoir from the point at which the ice compressed fuel is admitted to'the passage connected with the ports through which it is delivered to thepower-unit, for the purpose of efiecting a "thorough intermixture of the charges and by frictional contact with the walls of the narrowed passage, and the heat evolved in the operation, a complete yaporizatioii of their ligu-id particles. A part 20 o, the shaft 13 bearin 12 of the head-7 is made separate mounted in the from t e body-portion of thesame, and the areconnected by si-flexible. coupling engine has three equi-distant radial ducts 23 which connect with a central chamber 24 formed in the corresponding bearing 12, for the distribution of a combustible fluid mixture admitted to the chamber from a car-' buretor to an annular compression-chamber 25 formed inside the rotor 14 by a relatively stationary cylinder 26. The carburetor shown at 27 in Figures 1 and 7 of the-draw- 15 ings, is connected with the chamber 24 in the bearing by means of a passage 28.

The power-unit and the compressor-unit of the engine are divided from each other by a partition provided by a web 29 which forms an integralcorinction between the before-- mentioned hollow hub 15 of the rotor and a therewith concentric circumferential wallportion 30 of the same.

-Referring further to the compressor-unit, 25 the before-mentioned stationary cylinder 26 occupies the space between the head 7 of the engine-housing and the partition 29 of. the

1 rotor and fits snugly around the corresponding part of the hub 15 of the same.

e stationary part 26 which may be termed the stator of the compressor, includes spaced from the inner surface of the wall to form the annular compression chamber 25 hereinbefore referred to. 7

The smaller 0 lindrical part of the core has a plurality o equi-distant peripheral and circular recesses 32 in which are mounted the rotary abutment-members 33 which cooperate with piston-heads hereinafter to be described, to compress the fluid mixture ad- I mitted to the compression space through the ducts 23, in the operation of the engine.

The abutment-members consist of periph-" erally toothed wheels supported on shafts 34:

by means of which they are rotatably mount ed in central holes lined with anti-friction bushings 35, at opposite sides of the re-- 50, cesses 32.

The toothed wheels mesh with an internal gear 36 provided by an. annulus rigidly fas- J tened upon the inner surface of the portion 7 of the rotor-wall around thestationary cylinder, the method of fastening the gear havoperate with the abutment-wheels to compress the fluid in the annular compression chamber 25.

r In order to provide for the passage of the piston heads in the rotary movement of the rotor, the gear-wheels have peripheral rehousing.

cesses 38, the distances between the heads and the radii of the gear-wheels and the-internal gear being proportioned so that the piston heads are brought into register with the recesses of the several abutment wheels at the proper moments in the movement of the rotor and the corresponding, movements of the Wheels;

The motive fluid supplied to the ducts 23 from the carburetor is admitted directly to the compressor chamber at three' equi-distant points thereof, indicated in Figures 2 to 5 of the drawings by the numerals 39, and the fluid is after compression exhausted from the compression-chamber into the reservoir 16 inside the hub of the rotor through annular ducts lO .in the stator and therewith registering ports 41 in the hub.

The ducts 40 are located immediately rearward of the recesses 32 of the cylinder with reference to the direction of rotation of the rotor indicated in the drawings by the arrow A, and the part of the stator outside of those portions in which the ducts are formed is hollowed as at 42 for the circulation of the cooling fluid supplied to the sections of the The stator may be fastened in place by the same bolts which connect the head-sections of the housing upon the ends of the bodysection of the same. e an enlarged head 31 fitted within the wall- 4 I portion of the rotor, but its major portion is 7 sides of the recesses.

Packing rings are also applied between the enlarged head 31 of the stator and the wall as indicated at 46. In the construction shown inthe drawings, the motive fluid is admitted to the compression chamber 25 at three equi-distant points thereof, the rotor is equipped with fourequidistant piston heads coordinating with three rotary abutment-members and the compressed fluid is discharged from the compression space through three ducts which re ister with fourequi-distant ports in the hu of the rotor which communicate with the reservoir 16. r r

In the operation of the compressor the combustible mixture produced in the carburetor is constantly 4 chamber 25 through'the ports 39 and compressed between the abutment-members 33- and the piston heads 37 by the rotary motion of the ro r to which the heads are fastened The por 41 in the hub of the rotor coordinate" with the ducts 40 toadmit the compressed fluid-to the reservoir 16 during the periods immediately prior to the passage of .of the rotor as at 4:4,- and between the central sleeve 45 of the core and the hub of the rotor admitted to the compression fluid is admitted to the space C between the the piston heads at the points of contact of same abutment member and the next preceding piston head; in the following space D 4 the fluid previously admitted through the port 39 is being compressed, in the next space E fresh fuelis initially admitted; in'the space F the fuel previouslylsupplied is being compressed; and in the last space G compression is about to take place by the passage.

. of-the piston head at the point of contact of the abutment member with the wall of the rotor. I

Figure 4 illustrates the positions of the parts during the movement of the piston head that compressed the fuel in the space B ast \with the space 52 by a common passage 53*.

the point of contact of the respective a utment-member' with the-wall of the compression chamber, when, it will be noted, the fuel which in Figure 3 was taken in the space G 'following that fromwhich the compressed fuel'was discharged,.is now being compressed while in the space C preceding the space B of Figure 1 fresh'fuel is taken in.

In Figure 5, the piston head which cornressed the fuel in the space B of Fi ure 3 as assed'the intake port, and this uel is now eing compressed in the space D. During the same periodthe fuel is again compressed in the space B'to be delivered into fuel is compressed twice in each hal revoluunit.

the reservoirwhen the respective piston head approaches the position shown in Figure 3.

' It will thus be seen thatthe compression space is constantly divided into three intake spaces and three deliverys aces in alternate arrangement, that ineach elivery s ace the tion of the rotor and thatin consequence twelve deliveries of fuel take "place. during each'complete revolution. This result is attained by the provision of a plurality of piston heads exceeding by one thenumber of abutment-members or the corresponding number of delivery ducts and by'providing the hub of the rotor with a pluralit of ports corresponding in number, with t e piston heads and exceeding by one the number of discharge ducts in the stationary cylinder.

The power unit of the engine operates ona principle similar. to that. of the compression Again we find a cylindrical stator 47 ro vvided with three rotary abutment-mom ers 48 which. mesh with an internal gear-wheel as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The construction ofthe power-unit as shown in the drawings comprises two series of three combustion spaces at opposite sides of a partition 55 in the stator, which partition is traversed by three valve-chambers for. the valves which in the operation of the engine, function to admit the burning and expanding gases alternately from the combus-.

tion-chambers of the two series to the space between the stator and the circumferential wall of the rotor. 'Each valve thus controls the fluid flow through two ducts at. opposite sides of the partition, adapted to connect 49 on the rotor, and four piston heads 50 The combustion-chambers 51 open in-the surface of the central sleeve-member 56. of the stator engaging the hub of the rotor to regs ister with ports 57 in the hub as will hereinafter be-described;

The valves which are reciprocating shuttle type, each consists of a spool 58 having three equi-distantly spaced heads 59, 60 and 61 slidingly fitted in the respective valve-chamberof the stationary cylinder and shouldered and parts 62 of reduced diameter exteriorly oflthe outer heads 59. In order to further guide; the valves in their reciprocating motion, short tubes 63 are screw-threaded in openings at opposite ends of the valve-chambers to extend within the hollow valves as best shown in Figure 8. The parts62-of the valves that fit upon the guide'tubes may be made separate from the body-portion of the same on which the heads 59, 60 and 61 are 1.

formed. v n

The longitudinal extent. of the valvechambers is' determined by plug members 64 and 65 which close their ends and are removably fastened upon the inner surface of the stator atone end of the chambers and upon'the outer surface of the head 6 of the housing at the opposite end of thesame. The spaces 66 between the shoulders of the valves and the plugs, hereinbefore referred to, are connected with the. respective pair of combu ion chambers of the two series by narrow assage's 67'.

Each 0 the valvechambers connects with the space between the stator and the circumferential wall 14 of the rotor, in which in practise the gases evolved in the combustionchambers expand to impart motion to the rotor by means of the before-mentioned single passage 53, so. that by periodical reciprocation of the valves, motive fluid will be admitted to the space alternately from ,each two opposite combustion-chambers of the series.

The hub of the rotor within the sleevemember 56 of the stator has two pairs of ports 57 at right angles to each other which register respectively with the two series of combustion-spaces in the cylinder.

The combustion-spacesare each equipped with ,an electric ignition appliance 68 of the spark plug typewhich are periodically connected in an ignition circuit through the instrumentality of a/timing device designated in Figure 1 by the reference numeral ing elements of the engine to provide'for the continuous circulation of water from one to another, but since the specific method of accomplishing this object is obvious, no illustration further than that given in the present views of the drawings has been given.

The expansion-space 52 of' the -power unit, is connected with the atmosphere by -means of three equi-distant ports for the exhaust of spent gases. The position of the ports has been indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings by the numeral 70, and they may connect with spaces in the head of the engine-housing, as shown in Figure 1, which spaces may in turn be connected with a manifold by outlet conduits 71.

The toothed wheels 48 constituting the abutment-members of the power-unit extend at their ends into recesses 72 of the stator 47 and the head of the engine-housing as shown in detail in Figure 1-1, and their parts within the recesses are provided with ex-' pansion packing .rings 73 to insure a fluid tight connection.v

The method of packing the piston heads of the rotor in both the power-unit and the compression-unit has been'illustrated in Fig-' ures 9 and 10. .The heads are fastened to the internal gear-wheel of each of the units by screw-bolts 74 and the gear-wheels are themselves fastened inside of the drum-member of the rotor by means of screw-bolts.

has buttwo admission ports to supply the shown at 75 .in Figure 1.

i 3 The piston-heads are grooved at their ends engaging the sides of thecompression and expansion chambers and at their edge which moves in contact with the peripheral 'sur:

faces of the stationary cylinders. Packing strips 76 fit snugly in the grooves 77 and the grooves are connected with the spaces through which the piston-heads move by means of ducts 78' opening in a side of the pistons. It will be evident that the motive fluid admitted to the grooves through the ducts will maintain the packing strips in -fiuid tight contact with the surfaces they engage. The-same and similar bolts as those employed to secure the sections of the housing and 'thestator of thev compression-unit Packing rings 81 are applied in grooves, of

the hub of the rotor at opposite sides of the ring. 80 is placed in a groove of the head 79 of the stator to insure. its fluid-tight connection with the circumferential wall of the rotor.

'The contacting surfacesofthemotary and relatively stationary parts of the engine are constantly lubricated by a lubricant suppliedthrough the medium of 'a pump 82 operatively connected with the shaft '13.

The oil forcibly injected into thehousing "through an inlet passage 83 finds its way between the contacting surfaces of the movable and relatively stationary parts of both the compression-unit and the power-unit of the engine, it being understood'that the parts may be provided with ducts wherever necessary for the passage of the lubricant from one to the other. The ducts above referred to, not being an important part of the invention, have been omitted in the drawings in order to avoid confusion.

In the operation of the engine, the compressed fuel stored in the reservoir 16 around.

the shaft 13 is, in a-thoroughly mixed and completely vaporous condition, admitted alternately to the two ,series of combustionchambers-51 at opposite sides of the partition 55 in the stator of the power unit, and upon ignition of the charges in the chambers, a portion of the gases escaping through the channels 67 will reverse the position of the valves 58 by which'the passage of the fuel to the annular expansionspace 52 is controlled.

The air occupying the spaces 66 at the opposite ends of the valve-heads,'provide cushions which deaden the impact of the valves with the end faces of their chambers andthereby eliminate noise and possible damage. Owing-to the factthat the hub of therotor gaseous fuel tothree combustion-chambers of each series 'andthe. pair of admission portsis staggered with relation to that corof combusresponding with 'the' other series 85 admission ports 57 and a similar packing tion-chambers', the chambers of eachseries are fed successively and in alternate relation to those of the other series.

When the charges-are admitted to the chambers, the respective valves are in the position in which they close the ducts 53 leading to the expansion-space of the unit and arereversed only after the explosion of the charges by their ignition through the medium of the spark plug 68,. The consequent slight delay in admitting the gases to the expansion-space after each explosion causes a congestion of expansive gases in the combustion-chambers with the result that upon the valves beingopened, the gases rush vio lently into the expansion-space and thereby increase their propulsive action upon the rotor of the engine. a

By reason of the alternate successions of explosions of the charges admitted to the six combustion chambers and the preponderance" in number of the piston heads over the abutment-members, each piston head will receive r three impulses during each revolution, so that the rotor will be propelled under the 1nfluence of twelve impulses during each com plete revolution, produced at regular inter-,

vals. a

The operation in this respect is so simllar to that of the compression unit, explained in largely exceed the effort required for the compressionbf the fuel, and the engine thus provides aipow'erful source of mechanical en-' ergy.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is; p 1. A rotary engine comprisin stationary cylindrical housing, a s aft in the housing, two stators arranged side by side on said shaft, a single interposed rotor arranged concentric with the stationary housing and avith the stators and rec'eivin' and cooperating with both stators to provide a compression-unit and a power-unit and means for supplying motive fluid to the com pression-unit, there being a connection between the compression-unit and thelpowerunit for the passage of motive fluid from the one to the other.

2. A rotary engine comprising an outer stationary cylindricalhousing, two stators Having thus-described my invention, what,

fixed therein, a single interposed rotor arranged concentric with the housing and with the stators and receiving the latter and cooperating with both stators to provide a compression-unit and a power-unit and providing a partitionby which the units are separated and means for suppi 'ng motive fluid to the compression-unit, there beinga connection between the compression-unit and the power-unit tor the passage of motive fluid from the one to the other. H

3. A rotary engine comprising a housing, two channeled stators fixed therein, a rotor havinga wall-member cooperating with both stators to form a compression-space and an expansion-space, and a hub member ported to cooperate with the channels of the stators V toprovide a passage for motive fluid from the compression space to the expansion-space, means for supplying motlve tluid to the compression-space, and piston members and abutment members in the spaces.

4.; A rotary "engine comprising an outer stationary cylindrical housing, two channeled stators side by side therein, a single common rotor interposed between the stators and havmg a wall member arranged concentric with the cylindrical housing and with the stators and receiving the latter and cooperating with the stators to vprovide acompression-space and an expansion-space, means for supplying motive fluid to" the compression-spacel and pistons and abutments in the spaces, there being a passage connecting with the channels of the stators for the passage of motive fluid from the compression-space to the expansion space.

.5. A. rotary engine comprising an outer stationary cylindrical housing, two stators side by side therein, a single common rotor inter posed between and arranged concentric with the cylindrical housing and with the stators and receiving the latter and coperating with the stators to form acompression-unit and a power-unit, there being. a passage ot motive flu d from the compression-unit to the powerunit, a pump for the supply of a lubricant to" the. contacting parts of the stators and the rotor, and means for supplyingmotive fluid I to the compression-unit. an outer 6. A rotary engine comprising a compres- -sion-unit and a power-unit having a common.

rotor, a shaft connected with the rotor, having a screw-threaded enlargement and a breast spaced apart, and the rotor having a hub screwedupon the enlargement of the shaft and shouldered to engage the breast of the same, and means for the supply of motive fluid to the compression-unit, the portion of the hub between the enlargement and the breast being spaced from the shaft and ported for the passage of motive-fluid from thecompression-unit to the power-unit.

7 In a rotary engine comprising an outer cylinder housing, a compression unit and a power unit arranged side by side within the ousing, a rotor common to both units and receiving the same and having a cylindrical wall member arran ed concentric with the housing and with t e said units, a circular stator fixed to the stationary housing and formin part of the compression unit and spaced roin the wall memberof the rotor to form an annular compression chamber, a rotary c lindrical abutment on the stator dividing t e chamber, a piston head on the wall member of therotor cooperating with the abutment to compress a fluid in the chamber, and means for supplying-motive fluid to the chamber, there being a passage for motive fluid from one unit to the'other, and the stator having ducts connecting the compres-' sion chamber with the passage.

' r' 8. In a rotary engine comprising an outer J a circular stator forming part of the com-- stationary cylindrical housing, a compression unit and a power unit arranged side by side within the housing, a rotorcommon to both units, having a cylindrical Wall member concentric with the housing and with the said units and provided with an internal gear,

pression unit and spaced'from the wall memer of the rotor. to form an annular compression chamber, a rotary toothed abutment on the stator dividing the compression chamber and meshing with the gear, a piston head on the all member of the rotor cooperating with the abutment to compress a fluid in the chamber, and means for supplying motive fluid to the chamber, there being a passage for .m'otive fluid from one unit to the other, and

the stator having ducts connecting the compression chamber with the passage.

9. In a rotary engine comprising an e uter stationary cylindrical housing, a compression unit and a powerv unit arranged side by side within the housing, a rotor common toboth units; having a cylindrical wall member arranged concentric with the cylindrical housing, a circular stator forming part of the com to the other, and the stator having ducts con- .necting the compression chamber with the passage.

' 10. In a rotary engine comprising an outer cylindrical housing, a compression unit anda power unit arranged side by side within the housing, a rotor common to both units, having a cylindrical wall member arranged con- .centric with the cylindrical housing, a cir- Lsion-chamber, a

cular stator concentric with and-spaced from the wall member of the rotor to provide an annular compression chamber, abutments on the stator dividing the compression chamber, each division having a duct in the stator for the discharge of compressed fluid,

g, piston heads on the rotor, cooperating wit the abutmentsto com ress the fluid in the chamber, and means 7 or supplying motive fluid to the chamber, there being a passage for mo: tive fluid from the compression unit to the power unit connecting with the ducts.

11. In a rotary engine comprisingan outer stationary cylindrical housing, a compression unit and a power unit arranged side by side within the housing, a rotor common to both units, having a cylindrical wall member ar:

. ranged concentric with the cylindrical house ing, a circular stator concentric with and spaced from the wall member of the rotor to provide an annular compression chamber, abutments on the stator dividing the compression chamber, each division having a duct in the stator for the discharge of compressed fluid, piston heads on the rotor, cooperating with the abutments to compress the fluid in v the chamber and exceeding the abutments in number, and means for supplying motive fluid tothe chamber, there being a passage for motive fluid from the compression unit to the power unit connecting with the 12. In a rotary engine comprising an ,outer stationary cylindrical housing, a compresk sion-unitarranged side by side within the cylindrical housing and a power-unit, a-rotor common to both units, having acylindrical wall-member arranged .concentrio'with the cyl ndrical houslng, a circular stator concentric with and spaced from the wall-member of the rotor to provide an annular compresutments on the stator divid ing the compression-chamber, each division havinga duct in the stator forthe dischar ge of compressed fluid, piston heads on the rotor,

cooperating with the abutmentsto compress the fluid in the chamber and exceeding the supplying motive fluid to the chamber, there being a passage for motive fluid from. the

compression-unit to the power-unit, connecting with the ducts. 1 I I 13. In a rotary engine comprising an outer stationary cylihdricalhousing, ac0mpres sion-unit arranged side byside within the cylindrical housing and a power-unit, a rotary element and a stationary element arranged concentric with the cylindricalhousingand with each other and spaced to provide an annular compression-chamber, abutments on one of the elements dividing 'the'chamber,

each division having-an inlet and a discharge duct for motive fluid, piston heads on the other element, exceeding by one the number of abutments, and a valve-member on the rotary' element-providing a passage from the abutments by one in number, and means for v andported hubmembena stator spaced from compression-unit to the power-unit of the engine and having ports which register with the discharge ducts of the compression-chem:

her-and which in number exceed the ducts by one.

14:. lln a rotary engine comprising an outer stationary cylindrical housing, a powerunit and a compression-unit arranged side by side within the housing, a shaft, a rotor having a hub member and a circumferential wall- :rnember arrangedconcentric with the cylindrical housing, the hub member consisting of a sleeve surrounding the shaft and spaced therefrom to provide a passage between the units, a stator in the compression-unit concentric with and spaced from the wall-member of the rotor to provide a compression-chamber and having a sleeve-member around the hub,

abutments on the stator, dividing the compression-chamber, and piston heads on the rotor cooperating with the abutments to compress fluid in the, compression-chamber, each division of the com pression-chamber having an inlet for motive uid and a discharge duct extending to the hub-member of therotor, and the hub-member having ports register- ,ing with the ducts. i

15. in a rotary engine-comprising an outer stationary cylindrical housing,a powerunit and a compression-unit arranged side by side within the housing, a rotor having a hubember and a circumferential wall-memher a ranged concentric with the cylindrical housing, the hub-member being hollow to provide a passage between the units, a stator in the compression-unit concentric with and spaced from the wall-member of the rotor to provide a compression-chamber and having a sleeve-member around the hub, abutments on the stator, dividing the compression-chandler,

and piston heads on the rotor exceeding the abutments by-one in number, each division of the compression-chamber havmg an mlet for motive fluid and a discharge duct extending to the hub-member of the rotor, and the hub member having ports registering with the gucts and exceeding the ducts by one in numer. N y 16. In a rotary engine, a rotor having a circumferential wall-member and. a hollow the wall-member of the rotor to form an annular piston-chamber,- and provided with ducts-opening in the chamber and registering withthe ports of the hub-member, abutments on the stator dividing the chamber, and pis ton heads on the rotor cooperating with the abutments. I

17. In a rotary engine, a rotary element and a stationary element arranged concentric and spaced apart to form an annular pistonchamber, fixed abutments on one element dividing the chamber, piston heads on the other element cooperating with the abutments, the

stationary element having a combustionported and'hollow'hub-member, consisting of pressure a sleeve surrounding the said shaft andformmg a passage extending across the rotor, a stator fitted upon the hub and spaced from the wall-member of the rotor to form an an-. nular piston chamber, abutments on the stator dividing the chamber, and pi ston-heads on the rotor cooperating with the abutments, the stator having for each division of the chamber a combustion-chamber connected with the piston-chamber and provided with i an inlet adapted to register with the ports of the hub-member of the rotor communicat- 1 ing with the said passage. 7

19. In a rotary engine, a rotor and a stator spaced apart to form an annular piston-chamber, a rotary circular abutment on the stator dividing the chamber, and a piston headon the rotor cooperating with the abutment, the stator having for each division of the piston chamber, a combustion-chamber in connection therewith, and the rotor and the stator having cooperating reciprocating valvemcmbers directly actuated and reversed by the pressure of the fuel for the periodic admission of fuel to the combustion-chambers. I Y

20.' In a rotary engine, a rotor and a stator spaced apart to form an annular piston-chamber, an internal gear on the rotor, a 'rotary toothed abutment on the stator, dividing the piston chamber and meshing with the gear, and a piston head 'on the rotor, cooperating with the abutment, thestatorhaving frr each division of the piston chamber, a combustion chamber in connection therewith, and the rotor and the stator having cooperatingvalve members directl y actuated by thepressure of the fuel for .the periodic. admission of fuel to the combustion chambers.

21. In a rotary engine, a rotary element and a\stationary element spaced apart to form an annular piston chamber, an abutment on one element dividing the chamber, a piston head on the other element cooperating with the abutment, thestationary element having a valve chamber in connection with the piston chamber and two combustion chambers separately connected with the valve chamber,

a valve element for the periodic admission of fuel to the combustion chambers by move ment of the rotary elementfand a valve in the valve chamber operating to control the connections between the valve chamber and the combustion chambers whereby to alternately and a stationary element spaced apart to form an annular piston chamber, an abutment on one element dividing the chamber, a, piston head on the-other element cooperating with the abutment, the stationary element *having a valve chamber in connection'with the piston chamber and two combustion chambers separately connected with the valve i valve-chamber and the combustion-chambers chamber, a valve element for the periodic admission of fuel to the combution-chambers by'movement of the rotary element, and a valve in the valve-chamber operating by fluid pressure to control the connection between the whereby to alternately connect the latter with the piston chamber. y Y

- 23., In a rotary engine, a rotary element and a stationary element spaced apart to form an annular piston chamber, an abutment on one element dividing the chamber, a piston head on the other element cooperating with the abutment, the stationary element having ar valve-chamber in connection with the pistonchamber and two combustion-chambers sepa-,

rately connected with the valve-chamber for g the supply of motive fluid to the piston-chamher and having an auxiliary connection with i the valve-chamber for the operation of the -valve by fluid-pressure, a valve-element for the periodic admission of fuel to the combustion-cha'mbers by movement of the rotary element,and a valve in the valve-chamber operating by fluid-pressure admitted through the auxiliary connection to control the connections, between the valve-chamber and the combustion-chambers whereby to alternately connect the latter with the piston-chamber.

24. In a rotary engine, a rotary element and a stationary element spaced apart to form an annular piston-chamber, an abutment on one 'element dividing the chamber, a piston-head on the other element cooperating with the abutment, the stationary'element having a valve-chamberin connection with the pistonchamber, and two combustion-chambers separately connected with the valve-chamber, a valve-element for'the periodic admission of I fuel to the combustion-chambers by move- 'men t-of the rotary element, and a reciprocat ing valve in the valve-chamber having spaced heads controlling the connections between the combustion chambers and the piston chamber,

' fluid pressure.

' there being an auxiliary connection between the combustion-chambers and the valvechamber for the operation of the valve by 25. In a rotary engine, a rotary element and a stationary element spaced apart to form an annular piston-chamber, an abutment on one elementdividing-the chamber, a. piston-head on the other element cooperat' ing with the abutment, the stationary element having a valve-chamber in connectlon with the piston-chamber, and two combustion-chambersseparately connected with the ment.

Y in g with the abutment.

valve-chamber, a valve in the valve-chamber operatable by fluid pressure to connect the combustion-chambers alternately with the piston-chamber, a source of fuel and a valveelement having ports arranged to connect the combustion-chambers alternately with the source of fuel by movement of the rotary ele- 26.'In a rota engine, the combination with a source of uel, of a shaft, a rotor having a -ci'rcumferential wall-member and a ported and hollow hub-member consisting of asleeve surrounding the shaft and forming a passage connecting with the source of fuel, a stator s aced from the wall-member of the rotor to orm an annular piston-chamher, an abutment on the stator dividing the tor to form an annular piston-chamber, an

abutment on the stator dividing the pistonchamber, and a piston on the rotor cooperating with the abutment, the stator having acombustion-chamber, an inlet port registering with a port of the hub-member to admit fuel tothe combustion-chamber from the passage,'and a duct connecting the combustionchamber with the piston-chamber;

28. In'a rotary engine, the combination ,with asource of fuel, a rotor having a circumferential wall-member and a hollow hubmember forming a passage connecting with the source of fuel and having two series of ports, a stator spaced from the wall-member 'of the rotor to provide an annular pistonchamber, and having a ,yalve-chamber con-.

.nected with the piston-chamber, two combustion-chambers separately connected with the valve-chamber,- and inlets registering with the series of orts in the hub-member of the rotor to admit fuel from the passage to the combustion-chambers alternately a valve in the .valve-chamberoperating by fluid pressure to connect the combustion-chambers alternately with the iston-chamber,,an abutment on the stator ividin the piston-chamber, and-a piston-head on t e rotorcooperat- 29. In a rotary engine, the combination cumferential wall-member and a hollow hubmember forming a passage connectlng with the source of fuel and having two series of I ports in staggered relation to each other, a

f with a source of fuel, a rotor having a c1r-.

stator spaced from thewall-member of the rotor to provide an annular piston-chamber and having a valve-chamber connected with thepiston-chamber, two combustion-cham-.

a stationary element spaced apart to form an annular piston-chamber, abutments on one of the elements dividing the piston-chamber, piston-heads on the other element cooperating with the abutments and exceeding the abutments in number, the stationary element having a combustion-chamber for each divisi'on of the piston-chamber in separate connection therewith, and a valve-element directly actuated by the pressure of the fuel and automatically operated to periodically admit fuel to the combustion-chambers by movement of the rotary element.

31. In arotary engine, a rotary element and a stationary element spaced apart to form an annular piston-chamber, abutments onone of the elements dividing the piston-chamber, piston-heads on the'other element cooperat ing with the abutments and exceeding the abutments by" one in number, the stationary element having a combustion-chamber for eachdivision of the piston-chamber in separate connection'therewith, and a valve-element directly actuated by the pressure of the fuel and automatically operated to periodically admit fuel to the combustion-chambers by movement of the rotary element.

32. In a rotary engine, a rotary element and a stationary element spaced apart to form an annular piston-chamber, abutments on one of the elements dividing the piston-chamber, piston-heads on the other element cooperating with the abutments and exceeding the abutments by one in number, the stationary element having a valve-chamber for each division of the piston-chamber in separate conthe combustion-chambers alternately with the motion therewith and two combustion-chambers for each valve-chamber separately connected therewith valves in the valve-chambers, operating by fluid-pressure to' connect piston-chamber, and a valve-element to admit fuel alternately to the combustion-chambers of each pair by movementof the rotary element.

33. In a rotaryengine, a rotary element and a stationary element spaced apart to form an annular piston-chamber, three abutmentson one-0f the e ements dividing the pistonchamber, 'four piston-heads on the other ele- \ment cooperating with the abutments, the

stationary element havingia valve-chamber for each division of the piston-chamber in separate connection therewith and two combustion-chambers for each. valve-chamber separately connected therewith, valves. in the valve-chambers operating by fluid-pressure to connect the combustion-chambers alternately with the piston-chamber, and a valveelement to admit fuel alternately to the combustion-cham'bers of each pair by movement of the rotary element;

34. In a rotar engine, the combination;

with 'a source of uel, of a rotor having a circumferential wall-member and ahollow hubmember providing a passage in connection with the source of fuel, and having two pairs of ports staggered with relation to each other and connecting with the passage, abutments on the stator dividing the piston-chamber,v plston-heads' on the rotor cooperating With the abutments and exceeding the abutments by one innumber, the stationary clement having a valve-chamber for. each division of the piston-chamber in separate connection therewith, two combustion-chambers for each valve-chamber separately-r connected therewith, and inlets registering-with the ports in the; hub-member of the rotor-to admit fuel from the passage alternately to'tlie combustionchambers of each pair by movement of the rotor, and valves in the valve chambers operating by fluid pressure to alternately con-v nect the combustion-{chambers of each. pair with the piston-chamber. 35. A rotary engine comprising/an outer stationary cylindrical housing, a shaft, a compression-unit and apower-unit arranged side by side on the shaft in the housing hav-'' ing a common rotor concentric with the housing and withthe said units and receiving the same, means for supplying motive fluid to the compression-unit, the rotor having a hub consisting ofa' sleeve of varying diameter and spaced from the shaft to provide a reservoir for motive fluid delivered from the compression-unit, a narrower passage to conduct the motive fluid'to the power-unit, and means for [controlling the passage of motive fluid from the compression unit to the combustion chamber.

- v36 A rotary .engine comprising an outer stationary cylindrical housing, a coinpres sion-unit and a power-unit mounted for cooperation side by side within the housing and having a common rotor arranged concentric with the housing and with the said units and receiving the latter, a reservoir-in the housing for motive fluid delivered from the compression-unit, a passage to conduct the ,motive fluid to the power-unit and means for controlling the passage of themotive fluid from the compression unit to the power unit. 37. A rotary engine comprising an outer unit and means for controlling the passage stationary cylindrical housing, a compression-unit and a power-unit mounted for co-.

operation side by side within the housing and having a common rotor concentric with the housing and with the units and receiving the latter, a reservoir in the. housing for motive fluid delivered from the compression-unit, a narrower passage to conduct the motive fluid to the power-unit and means for controlling the passage of the motivefluid from the, compression unit to the power unit.

38. A rotary engine comprising an outer stationary cylindrical housing, a compression-unit and a power-unit mounted for cooperation .side by side within the housing and having a common rotor'concentric with the housing and with the units and receiv-/,

ing the latter, a mixing chamber in the housing for motive fluid delivered from thecompression-unit, in connection with the powerof the motive fluid from the compression unit to the power unit.

39. A rotary engine mcluding an outer stacompression unit and a'power unit provided each with a stator, said compresslon un1t and power unit having a single common rotor ing a connection between said units for the v tionary cylindrical housing comprising 'a' passage ofmotive fluid from one to the other, and means for supplying motive fluid to the compression unit;

40. A rotary engine including anouter stasupplying motive fluid to the compression unit,-the rotor having a shaft and a ported hub spaced from the shaft to provide a passage between the shaft and the hubfor the motivefiuid from the compression unit to the power unit;

41. A rotary engine including an outer stationary cylindrical housing comprising a compression unit and a power unit provided each with a stator, said compression unit and power unit having a single common rotor interposedbetween the stators and arranged concentric with the outer housing, and a shaft composed of a body section supporting therotor, an extension section, and a flexible connection between the sections located within the cylindrical housing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affix d my signature.

WILLIAM V. SEIFERT. 

